Bell linked to Fla. steroid sting

Posted by | March 06, 2007 at 02:26 PM

Sports Illustrated's most recent story on the Feb. 27 steroid raids in Florida appeared on its web site today. You can bet it won't be the last.

The SI reporters who wrote the story were allowed to review a 37-page classified intelligence report. The report indicates that numerous athletes received drug shipments from a widespread illegal distribution network that sold performance-enhancing drugs via the Internet. Among the named names are new Angels outfielder Gary Matthews Jr., who signed a five-year, $50 million contract after his career year in Texas; former heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield; and former Phillies third baseman David Bell, who started 2006 with the Phils before being traded to the Brewers.

According to the SI story, Bell received six packages of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) at a Philadelphia address in April 2006. Steroid users sometime cycle HCG with steroids to maintain and/or restore testosterone production in their bodies.

When contacted by SI, Bell admitted he received the shipment of HCG but said it was for a medical condition. He declined to disclose the condition, citing his privacy rights.

The SI story goes on to say that the athletes linked to the raids aren't likely to face prosecution because the main focus of investigators is to stop the distribution chain.

Whether any athletes are charged or not as a result of the Florida raids, it's clear the stain of baseball's Steroids Era won't be erased anytime soon.